Flamingos ‘settling in nicely’

The first batch of rescued flamingos that was released back home to Kamfers Dam just outside Kimberley.

Ready to go. Picture: Saambr

THE FIRST batch of rescued flamingos that was released back home to Kamfers Dam just outside Kimberley, after being rescued as newborns, is doing “very well” and “settling in nicely”.

Nearly 2 000 flamingo chicks were removed from Kamfers Dam at the beginning of February when it was found that they were facing “almost certain death” after being abandoned by their parents due to receding water levels.

Following the emergency evacuation, these flamingo chicks were airlifted and moved to various rehabilitation centres throughout South Africa where they were cared for and hand fed until they were returned to a specially-built rehabilitation centre at the Kimberley SPCA in April.

Last week, 50 of the rescued chicks were released back to Kamfers Dam, where they are reportedly “settling in nicely and doing very well”. This is according to Linja Allen, CEO of the NPO Saam Staan Kimberley, which spearheaded the initial rescue.

The chicks are being monitored at Kamfers Dam on a daily basis.

Allen said that the flamingos, many of which were rescued when they were only a few hours old, were now ringed to make them clearly visible to observers.